Major League Baseball has existed for three centuries, so numerous MLB teams have either moved from city to city (and more than once), changed their names more than once, or switched cities and picked up a new team name. Let’s take a look and see your team’s origins.
Call the Moving Van
Athletics.
Sacramento, 2025–present; Oakland, 1968–2024; Kansas City, 1955–1967; Philadelphia, 1901–1954.
The current Athletics don’t have a city designation for now, so they aren’t the “Sacramento Athletics,” even though that’s where they play. They’re heading to Las Vegas, their fifth city, in 2028.
Braves.
Atlanta, 1966–present; Milwaukee, 1953–1965; Braves, 1876–1952.
The Braves just wrapped up their 60th season in Atlanta, but their history stretches back nearly 90 years. They played 52 seasons in Boston under the nicknames Reds, Nationals, Doves, “Boston,” Bees…and Braves.
Orioles.
Baltimore, 1954–present.
They were originally the Milwaukee Brewers in 1901 and the St. Louis Browns from 1902–1953. The St. Louis Browns competed for fans against the St. Louis Cardinals for decades and relocated to Maryland for the 1954 season.
Twins.
Minnesota, 1961–present.
They were the original Washington Senators (1901–1960). In 1961, the Senators moved to the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) and became the Twins. They were officially the Senators (1901–04), then renamed the Nationals (1905–1955), then reverted to the Senators in 1956 before moving to Minnesota. Fans still called them the Senators.
Rangers.
Texas, 1972–present.
They were the second version of the Washington Senators (1961–1971). In 1961, Major League Baseball immediately placed a new team in Washington, the Senators, as part of its expansion draft for both Leagues.
Fun Fact. The great Ted Williams was manager of the Senators in 1969 (he was manager of the year) and their first season in Texas.
Nationals.
Washington, 2005–present.
They were originally the Montreal Expos (1969–2024). The Expos were an expansion team in 1969. The name came from the “Expo ’67” World’s Fair in Montreal, Canada. The Nationals were not connected to the first or second iteration of the Senators, although, as mentioned above, the early Senators were officially named the Nationals from 1905 to 1956.
Go West, Young Man
The Los Angeles Dodgers moved from Brooklyn, New York.
The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958 and played in the Memorial Coliseum for five seasons before moving to Dodger Stadium. The Brooklyn team was also called the Robins, Superbas, and Trolley Dodgers.
The San Francisco Giants moved from Manhattan, New York.
The New York Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958, the same year as the Dodgers, one of the first two teams to move west of the Mississippi. The New York team was also called the Gothams.
…Or Go East
The Milwaukee Brewers (1970–present) were the Seattle Pilots for the 1969 season.
In 1969, Seattle had a new MLB expansion team, the Pilots. After only one season, the team went bankrupt. The team was rescued when it was sold toward the end of 1969 to Bud Selig, eventual Baseball Commissioner. By the start of the next season, just a few months later, the former Pilots were playing in Milwaukee as the Brewers.
They Never Left Home
These are the oldest MLB teams that have never moved…but some of the names have changed.
- Chicago White Sox — White Stockings. The new American League at first adopted the same name as the other Chicago team. It was shortened to White Sox in 1904, a name reporters used in their headlines.
- Chicago Cubs — White Stockings. They began using the name Cubs in 1903.
- Cincinnati Reds — Red Stockings, Redlegs.
- Cleveland Guardians — Indians, Naps, Napoleons, Blues, “Cleveland.” The team was renamed the Guardians in 2022.
- Detroit Tigers
- Philadelphia Phillies — In 1942, the team was simply named the Phils as a refresh.
- Pittsburgh Pirates — “Pittsburgh,” “Allegheny City”
- Louis Cardinals — Browns, “St. Louis.” They became the Cardinals in 1900.
- New York Yankees — Highlanders.
- Boston Red Sox — Americans.
Teams Established After 1960 That Stayed Home
These younger MLB teams have stayed put so far:
- Arizona Diamondbacks, established 1998
- Colorado Rockies, 1993
- Kansas City Royals, 1969
- Miami Marlins, 1993 (Florida Marlins, 1993–2011)
- New York Mets, 1962
- San Diego Padres, 1969
- Seattle Mariners, 1977
- Toronto Blue Jays, 1977
- Tampa Bay Rays, 1998 (Devil Rays, 1998–2007)
- Houston Astros, 1962 (Colt .45s). The team was renamed the Astros when they began playing in the Astrodome in 1965.
- Los Angeles Angels, 1961 (California Angels, Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim). The Angels played in Chavez Ravine (Dodger Stadium) from 1962–65, before moving into their own stadium in Anaheim, 30 miles to the south in Orange County.
A sign of consistency.
If you’re a Detroit Tigers fan, you have something to brag about—not only has your team never moved to another city, but they have also never changed their name in 125 years.
Resources: worldatlas.com/articles/13-major-league-baseball-teams-that-relocated-fansided.com/posts/mlb-relocation-history-every-relocated-team
stacker.com/stories/mlb-baseball/oldest-teams; Wikipedia.org/MLB Teams History; baseball-reference.com/various-teams